Yeah, I think a lot of what the end 'feeling' sounds like comes from John and Mick. For some reason I'm thinking about Isn't It Midnight as an example, or even Love Shines... where the bass sort of gives that extra 'ummph', it adds a melodic lilting undertone, it drives the song along. I mean Love Shines could have been IMO a much more 'ordinary' song if it had an ordinary bassline on it. John gives it a fun and happy bounce, it raises it up to that next level of being every-so-catchy!

I do love him to pieces. Can you tell?

-Lis

Bass is my scene, and i love john. One new one that i didn't like so much until i heard the thumpin, throbbin, baseline come in....

RUNNING THROUGH THE GARDEN

Actually, I could go on and on, but others have said it well, plus i'm tired..
AMber

:nod: yep - they do lay down the foundation - they together just sound great -

I remember Lindsey saying once that Mick plays slightly behind the beat (which he complimented with admiting that he plays slightly ahead of the beat) - this confused me. Being the drummer Mick IS the beat - no? In my musical experience the rythm section is what you follow - they lay down the beat - the tempo - the basic foundation of a song....

No rhythm section plays completely one-to-one or totally together. It would make the thing sound like it was played by machines. The classic rhythm sections consist of people that can make the groove live and breathe. Screw 'em click tracks, although FM's been using them for a long time now. :p

Even the drum machines, or certain computer-generated rhythms these days can have slight pre-programmed off-beats in their patterns, to make them sound more like humans. This is what Can's Irmin Schmidt once said of drum machines: "Every drum machine has a humanizing function. Except for Jaki [Liebezeit, drummer of Can]. He never had a humanizing function."

Oh, and my favourite bass part of John's at this very moment? The verses of "Beautiful Child". So fluent and fragile. VERY necessary to the arrangement.

I'm not saying Mick or any drummer should play perfect - what I'm saying is the ARE the beat....and therefore....well...ya know...they are the beat perfect or not...and I am fully aware that no drummer is perfect....regardless- the rythm section provides the beat!

The quote was something as follows: Mick plays slightly behind the beat, John plays slightly in front and they meet somewhere in the middle.

Of course, with Mick and John not being academically trained musicians, they are prone to that usual rock and roll talk that you can hear from many musicians. They're not about analysing, they're about the sperrit. They can't describe accurately what they do but that's rock and roll for you, baby. ;)

Ok - I didn't have the exact quote - and that's not as I remember it - the one I mentioned above didn't mention John at all - just Mick - so whatever....

Again- I just think they are greatness....and I do understand the nuances of rock and roll being that I've been in several local bands myself...they jive quite nicely (Mick and John) - I was simply stating that the rythm section is the foundation and carries the beat for any given song....

Sorry about that. What you quoted was what Lindsey said. What I tried to quote was what Mick said of himself and John once.

I love John, but I can't say with a straight face that Mick is a fabulous drummer and one of the best. He's gotten quite crappy over the years. He needs to get some tutoring from Clem Burke on drumming.

?? Are you kidding me? His drumming isn't crappy...granted he's not the world's greatest but he is far from "crappy" he's actually quite good.

The Dance was a while ago - but his drumming was excellent on that...he can keep a beat and he's creative and fun with his styles and fills - all in all he's a good drummer.

Sorry, I think he's simply adequate at this point. :o

And don't forget that moment during The Dance tour when they finally got him to SING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He should step out of his shadow space on stage a little more often but hey that's bass players for ya.


Dimphy

Complete egomaniacs, the two of them. Not without reason, though.

He's amazing! :nod: